CLAUDE ESTIER
225
Estier:
No, not at all, because as I was just explaining the position of
the Left and of the Socialist party-it would be somewhat
different for the Communist party-the Socialist Left keeps in
mind the fact that someday, perhaps in the distant future, there
will have to be coexistence between an Israeli state and a
Palestinian state.
Kurzweil:
Then, if this is possible, how is it going to come about?
Estier:
It's difficult to know how this will come about, but we are
totally convinced that someday we will get there. So we must find
the way.
Kurzweil:
I'd like to change the subject now, to ask you about the
consequences for French intellectuals who have the responsibility
of governing.
Estier:
This question, too, warrants a long answer because I believe
that French intellectuals of the Left are very uneasy that the Left
is in power. This is astonishing, if we compare it with the Popular
Front of 1936, which was supported in a very vigorous way by the
intellectuals of the Left . A number of Left intellectuals fought for
the Left, for the Socialist party, at the time of Mitterand's
campaign, but once the Left gained power and should have had
the support of the intellectuals, they seemed to be distancing
themselves as if they were embarrassed or angry at having to
support the government.
Kurzweil:
Do you think this has something to do with the idea that
one must challenge the state, and now you are the state?
Estier:
There might be a bit of that. I'm really surprised, in any case,
at how these Left intellectuals express themselves.
Le Nouvel
Observateur,
for example, which is to some extent the forum of the
Left intellectuals, is a paper that passes its time in distancing itself
from the government, as if these intellectuals were afraid of being
compromised. They are reticent, perhaps because things are not
happening exactly as they would have liked. One gets the
impression that they had faith in a dream that is not turning out
as they wanted it to.
Kurzweil:
Could that be because you can't do what you would like to
do? How can I say it? Because there is only one pie to divide?
Estier:
Naturally, that is what I was trying to say. There is a certain
form of idealism that mixes up reality; and therefore the
intellectuals can't keep the reality in mind, and always think that
there is some kind of retreat or renunciation.
